Developing Community in Your Homeschool Group
The whole reason you either started your homeschool group or joined one is so that you and your children could make friends. As most of us know, it’s easier said than done. Developing a strong community in your homeschool group isn’t difficult but does require intentionality and effort. Grab a few friends and commit to making your group the kind of group everyone wants to be a part of
Set Standards and Expectations for your Group
Oh yuck, this may not be the first thing you want to think about when you are trying to create a community of fun-loving people who enjoy being around each other, but I might argue that it’s the most important element to having a healthy group. Having written (yes written) guidelines about who you are (your beliefs as a group) and what the group expectations are (think, a no bullying policy, guidelines for how you expect members to treat each other, and any rules that are important to your group)
This is really important, because it sets the tone early on for the kind of group you want to be, and your members can decide right from the beginning if they want to be a part of it. It also gives you the ability to remove a member from the group when they aren’t meeting those standards and expectations. – You may be thinking “that sounds like the opposite of community building” but I promise you, in order to have a strong healthy community there has to be rules and standards, your members want to trust that they are in good hands, and you will take care of business if needed.
Find Others with Your Vision
Whether you are an established group trying to build community or a new group starting out, you need a few people who understand your vision and what you are trying to accomplish, then together you can begin to brainstorm how that vision can come to life. Shoot for at least 3-5 people on your team.
When you are trying to build your team, look for people who are positive, outgoing and people loving. People like this aren’t just nice to be around, but they draw other people as well, which will be important when planning events.
Create Opportunities for Connection
Most likely your group is going to have a big mix of personalities which means that you are going to need to have lots of different kinds of activities and events that will meet the needs of those individuals. Here are a few ideas to help get you started.
Supper Club– Split families up into groups and create a Supper Club. Groups can take turns hosting once a month. This allows people to get to know each other on a more personal level and the smaller the group size is less intimidating for introverts.
Regional bible studies- We live in a large metroplex area, and our group members are spread out far and wide. When we were looking to build more community, we split our city into 4 groups and created bible study groups for each area. The groups meet once a month for fellowship and study. This allowed us to get to know people who lived closer to us.
Mom Night Outs– Plan nights out beyond just having dinner. The more experiences you have together, the more bonding that happens in your group. Some ideas we have done are- Meet for Ice-cream, go to a shooting range, ice-skating, thrift shopping, craft fairs, Rock climbing etc.
Teach a Class– There are bound to be some talented people in your group that would be willing to teach some skill. Some class ideas could be- watercolors, crochet, bread baking, line dancing.
Book club– Just like it sounds, someone chooses a book and then you meet regularly to discuss it.
Co-op- If your group doesn’t have a co-op aspect to it, Homeschool Co-ops are great places to connect and pool resources together to teach our kiddos.
Mom’s of Littles group- if you have a lot of moms with preschool age kiddos and younger, playgroups are a great place to connect and build relationships at. Form the groups and encourage them to meet at each others homes, parks, church playgrounds, inside playscapes etc.
Start a Homeschool club- Similar to teaching a class, only ongoing. Consider starting a club based on students or parents’ interest. The club can meet regularly for fun and fellowship.
Facebook Group- If your group doesn’t already have a Facebook group, or other common place to share group news, ask questions and just chat in general- start one. Your people need a place that is easy to connect and find information.
Recognize Life Events– If someone has a baby, throw them a baby shower. If there is a death in a family, put together a meal train. Send cards for birthdays, graduations, big anniversaries, job promotions…etc.
Dealing with Conflict and Disagreements
Conflict is a natural part of any group dynamic, and homeschool groups are no exception. Differing opinions, personalities, and teaching styles can sometimes lead to disagreements. However, when addressed constructively, the community aspect remains strong, and everyone feels heard.
The Importance of Open Communication:
Encourage a culture of open communication where members feel safe to express their concerns and opinions without fear of judgment or retribution. Create a space where everyone feels heard and valued. When conflicts arise, address them promptly and directly, rather than letting them fester. Having those written expectations and standards come in handy when you are dealing with conflict, because it becomes less personal and more about following the rules.
Related: Challenges Homeschool Groups Face
Maintaining Engagement and Participation
Once you have some firmly established activities going in your group, your members will begin to feel comfortable, and you will notice a shift in camaraderie. There will be hugs and inside jokes and more vulnerability among members when they are sharing. But how do you keep the momentum going without burning out?
You need a rotating leadership team
Allow new people to join in the planning of the events. Heck, allow anyone to plan an event. The more the merrier, as long as there are guidelines like- group events can’t be exclusive, then allowing parents and students to plan things on their own should be encouraged.
Consider changing the team doing the planning of events, every year or every other year. This allows for fresh ideas and more people to get involved and feel invested.
Creating the kind of community that people want to be a part of, doesn’t take long. It just requires a group of caring, encouraging people with the common goal of authentic fellowship. If you put some guidelines and regular activities into place, your group will be the one people start talking about and want to belong to.
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Looking for Co-op Resources? Check out these links below
Best list of No-Prep Homeschool Co-op Classes
8 Exciting Field Trip Ideas for Homeschool Groups
How to Plan a Homeschool co-op Graduation
Angela is the Homeschool Encourager for the Overwhelmed & Under-Caffeinated and the Chaos-to-Confidence Specialist behind Schooling with Grace. With a no-fluff approach, a dash of humor, and a whole lot of heart, she helps homeschool moms cut through the chaos, ditch unrealistic expectations, and teach with confidence.